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Measurement of overhead line and cable impedance values, earth impedance of large substations
and electromagnetic interference between overhead lines and signal cables, using a new technology

Michael Krüger, OMICRON electronics GmbH, Austria


by interpolating the curve impedance versus frequency.
The described method is also ideal for earth impedance
Introduction and coupling measurements. Figure 2 shows the
OMICRON CPC 100, a universal instrument for primary
The knowledge of overhead line and cable impedances testing, which includes the signal generator, the power
is very important for the correct protection relay setting. amplifier, a transformer for 800A and 2kV, the
Line-to-line impedances can be calculated with measurement equipment and an embedded PC [1].
acceptable accuracy, but line-to-earth impedances have
to be measured, because the calculation does not fit
within the real condition of the specific earth resistance
with metallic pipes, cables and other metallic parts in
the ground. Also the mutual coupling between power
lines has to be measured. Conventional measurement
principles are:
­ the beat frequency method,
­ the “ON-OFF” method and the
­ “polarity changing method”.
These methods need high test currents to get an
acceptable signal-to-noise ratio and they are not very Figure 2: OMICRON CPC 100
precise. This paper describes a new test method using
frequencies different from the line frequency. The
excellent noise suppression allows for precise Capacitive and inductive coupling
measurements under difficult conditions.
Without special equipment, measurements on overhead
lines are very dangerous. Figure 3 and 4 show the
Measuring principle danger due to capacitive and inductive coupling of
objects in service into the measured line. For a 220kV
line with a length of 10,5 km, the capacitive coupled
voltage is approximately 48kV (both ends open) and the
current through the coupling capacitance (one end
grounded) is 283mA per km.

Figure 1: Measuring principle

The measuring principle is shown in figure 1. A digital


signal processor (DSP) generates sinusoidal signals in
a frequency range of 15 to 400 Hz. This signal is fed to
a switched mode power amplifier. A transformer at the
output matches the internal amplifier impedance with
the test object impedance. A multiplication of the
measured signals with the generated signal sin(ωt) and
the 90° shifted signal cos(ωt) enables an excellent
filtering of the noise and a measurement of the real and
the imaginary parts with high precision. So complex
impedances Z=R+jX can be measured. When the
measurements are made at frequencies different from
the line frequency, they also can be made under difficult
conditions without any interference problems. The
impedance value at line frequency can be determined Figure 3: Capacitive coupling

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2004 – International Protection Testing Symposium 2004


2.2

If the parallel system in figure 4 has a fault current of


3000A then the induced voltage in the measured
system is 414V per km, which is 4,35kV for the whole
length of 10,5km.

Figure 6: Line-to-line impedances

1,sym
Z /3

m
Z

Figure 7: Ground loop impedance

Figure 4: Inductive coupling


m
The ground impedance Z can be calculated by
1,sym
To avoid any danger during the measurements a subtracting Z /3 from the ground loop impedance
special coupling unit is used between the CPC 100 and (see figure 7). The earth factor k0 is shown in figure 8.
the overhead line (Figure 5). A separation transformer,
with reinforced insulation and measuring transformers,
allow a complete potential separation. The coupling unit
is situated near the overhead line, far away from the
operation unit. Overvoltage arrestors and a short earth
line with a big cross section make the operation as safe
as possible. Test currents up to 20A can be generated.

Figure 8: The earth factor (k0)

On-site tests

A practical measurement was made on a 220 kV


overhead line with a length of 80km (figure 9).

Figure 5: Line coupling unit

Line impedance measurement

For determination of the symmetric line impedance, the


ground impedance and the ground factor (k0), the
following measurements are necessary:
­ Measurement of L1-L2, L2-L3 and L3-L1 loops
­ Measurement of L1+L2+L3 (in parallel) to ground

1,sym
The symmetric line impedance Z can be easily
determined out of the line-to-line impedances (see
Figure 9: Connecting a 80km 220kV line
figure 6).

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2004 – International Protection Testing Symposium 2004


2.3

All the settings can be prepared, so the measurement


of all parameters needs approximately 30 minutes "on-
1,sym m
site time". The calculation of Z , Z and of the earth
factor k0 is done automatically (figure 10).

Figure 12: Effective noise suppression

Mutual impedance between power lines


Figure 10: Line parameters
Figure 13 shows the definition of mutual coupling
Very often the earth factor is set to 1. In our case an between two loops.
earth factor of 0,47 was measured. If a fault occurs in
the first part of the second zone, the relay would trip
instantaneously. So the selectivity of the protection is
not given.

A second example was measured on a high voltage


cable connection. The length was 9km. The cable
screens were "cross bonded". The earth factor of the
protection relay was set to 0,8. The measured earth
factor was 0,3. It is also interesting to note that the
inductive component (X) of the ground impedance is
negative. The reason for this is the relative big
inductance between the inner cable conductors Figure 13: Mutual impedance
(distance between the phases =30cm) compared to the
small inductance between inner conductor and screen, The mutual impedance from one overhead line into
so the difference becomes negative. another one can be measured very easily with the same
equipment. The only difference to the described line
impedance measurement is that the test current is
flowing through loop 2 (figure 13) and the voltage is
measured at loop 1.

Earth impedance of large substations

For measuring the earth impedance of substations, the


auxiliary line for the current loop should be at least 10
times the maximum longitude of the substation.
Otherwise the potential gradient area of the auxiliary
Figure 11: Cable parameters electrode would influence the potential gradient area of
the substation earth system, which is measured.

Noise suppression

All the measured results in figures 10 and 11 are


interpolated values. The real measurement was made
at different frequencies to get the impedance curve over
the frequency. In figure 12, the noise at 50Hz can be
seen clearly. By interpolating the impedance curve for
50Hz this value can be determined with high precision
although high 50Hz noise is around. Also the
impedance values at the harmonics can be determined.
Figure 14: Earth impedance mesurement

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2004 – International Protection Testing Symposium 2004


2.4

For large substations overhead lines or cables, which twisted conductors. The angle between auxiliary cable
are out of service, are used as auxiliary line. The and overhead line should be 90° - if possible - to avoid
principle is shown in figure 15. induced voltages in the measuring circuit. To check if
there are voltages induced by the test current, the end
of the auxiliary cable is shorted first. In this case the
measured value should be nearly zero.

Figure 15: Overhead line as auxiliary line

Figure 16 shows the earth impedance curve. A distance


of more than 2000m is needed between the measuring
electrode and the substation earth to get the complete Figure 17: Coupling measurements
impedance value.
The mutual impedance between the line and the cable
is: Z=U/ I, with U= the induced voltage measured at the
auxiliary cable and I= the current through the overhead
line.

Figure 18: Impedance of earth grid

In figure 18 the principle of earth grid measurement is


shown. With this measurement contact resistances of
earth grid connections can be measured and corrosion
of the grid itself can be detected.
Figure 16: Earth impedance result

Normally not only the ground feeds the current which is Conclusions
flowing back to the substation. All metallic line, tubes,
pipes and for example the earth cable on the tower top Modern power electronics and digital signal processing
feed parts of the current flowing back. Sometimes it is with narrow band digital filtering allow for precise
important to determine the current balance of all measurements of complex impedances also in a very
described paths. This can be done, if the paths are noisy environment. With the use of this method surely a
assessable, by using special current clamps, which are lot of useful additional applications will be created in the
put around the line. future.

Electromagnetic interference between power lines Reference


and signal cables
[1] [Th. Hensler, R. Kaufmann, U. Klapper, M. Krüger,
The described equipment can also be used for coupling Z. Schreiner, 2003, "Portable testing device", US
measurements between overhead lines and Patent 6608493
communication systems, for example signal cables. The
near end of the signal cable is connected to the
measuring input by a shielded auxiliary cable with

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2004 – International Protection Testing Symposium 2004

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